This article explains how Oracle 9i can operate in combination with Sun's dynamic reconfiguration (DR). It provides a brief overview of DR, intimate shared memory (ISM), dynamic intimate shared memory (DISM), and dynamically resizable system global area (SGA), and explains how these technologies fit together. In addition, this article provides step-by-step details for configuring Oracle relational databases on Sun Fire servers so that the DR capabilities of the Sun platform can be maximized. This article requires an intermediate reader. The features described in this article should be used with the Solaris 9 OS Update 2 and newer.

Like this article? We recommend

Like this article? We recommend

UNIX® has established its place in the data center, supporting the most
mission-critical processes in any enterprise. Sun Microsystems has played a
significant and pioneering role in this evolution by introducing support for
server partitioning, on-line hardware servicing, and online partition
resizing.

The SolarisTM 8 Operating Environment (SolarisTM 8 OE) and higher
includes enhanced software support for these dynamic platform capabilities.
Today, many major software vendors use this software in their products.

This Sun BluePrintsTM OnLine article explains how Oracle 9i can operate
in combination with Sun's dynamic reconfiguration (DR). It provides a brief
overview of DR, intimate shared memory (ISM), dynamic intimate shared memory
(DISM), and dynamically resizable system global area (SGA), and explains how
these technologies fit together. In addition, this article provides step-by-step
details for configuring Oracle relational databases on Sun FireTM servers
so that the DR capabilities of the Sun platform can maximized.

This article presents the following topics:

"Dynamically Reconfiguring UNIX Systems"

"Using Dynamic Reconfiguration on Sun Fire Servers"

"Dynamic Intimate Shared Memory"

"Dynamically Resizing the SGA in Oracle 9i"

"Configuration Example"

Dynamically Reconfiguring UNIX Systems

Dynamic reconfiguration is the capability to remove from or add system
resources (for example, CPUs, memory, and I/O cards) to a system without having
to halt the operating system or the applications running on it. This feature was
first introduced in 1997, and it is one of the factors that has contributed to
Sun's success in the mission-critical arena.

In recent years, all major UNIX vendors have developed similar functionality.
For example, IBM developed lpars for use on their p-series servers, and HP
developed npars and vpars for use on the SuperDome.

In this article, we do not provide a detailed comparison of all UNIX server
partitioning technologies that are available in the market today. Instead, we
highlight two distinct advantages of Sun's server partitioning technology.
(Note that on a Sun server, a partition is referred to as a domain.)

First, Sun's server partitioning technology is based on the hardware
modularity of the Sun Fire servers and it guarantees the highest possible
isolation between domains. Because the failure of a component in a module (for
example, the failure of CPU, a memory board, or an I/O board) has been proven to
impact only the domain that is using the module, other domains are unaffected by
the failure. They stay up and are in no way aware of the fault.

Second, the technology is mature. While dynamic reconfiguration is a
technology that can now be used in a production environment, it took several
releases of the Solaris Operating System (Solaris OS) to reach this level of
reliability. Companies that are just now announcing dynamic partitioning will
lack this experience.